Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-02

Mr.. White spoke against the bill because he
thought cities had no interest IN county roads,
Also that the country paid no tax for city Streets
and it would be unjust.
Mr.. Chandler Mr.. clunie and Mr.. Conkln
favored the bill, as the cities were interested in
the country roads, aud because some road dis
trictS were too poor and too thinly settled TO en-
able them to build bridge.
Mr.. Dixon thought it economy to have
bridge constructed in a substantial manner. and
this was the only way to have il.
MI Vroonan said IN his district the members
OF the Board of Supervisors were mostly from
country members would build all the bridges
and use the fund.
Senator Hall in the chair
Upon roll call. the bill was read the second
time and ordered to engrossment.
SENSATIONAL JOURNALISM
Some of the newspaper representatives who
report the proceedings of the Senate have, in
the line of enterprise" sought to be sensa-
tlonal by rejecting upon the presiding officer of
the Senate, and have carried the matter to such
an extent that il has become matter of scandal,
and is TO be Investigated. In the Senate yester
day forenoon, Mr. Mofitt arose and said: Mr..
President, desire TO say in a very few words
something upon question which will interest
every Senator upon this floor. hold before me
copy of the Stockton Mail of January 25th and
/ refer to that portion of the newspaper which
refers to the proceedings at the Capitol. 1t is
headed, AT the Capitol To-day, Another Side
show Between Lieutenant-Governor Waterman
and Senator Goucher." The article refers to our
honored and respected Lieutenant Governor in
language which would noG repeat by reading.
do not know who Of the newspaper men wrote
it, but as a newspaper man, / want to denounca
il as infamous. In addition to writing this in
famous article, he did something farther and
more malicious; he used the paper to humiliate
Lieutenant. Governor Waterman and his family,
and. as | said before | have waited until this
moment. when Lieutenant-Goyernor Waterman
was out of hls chair, so that he would be hui
m a N IN dannttnpa I hitoly
committee should be appointed 10 find out who
has written the article, and when that is done,
the writer should be expelled from seat on
this floor
Mr.. Jones-My question is in defense of the
dignity of the Senate, of which | am part by
reason of my membership. My defense is in
behalf of the President of the Senate, who by
reason of his position has no absolute voice on
the floor of the Senate. / do this of my own
voltion. Probably had ! consulted Governor
Waterman in regard to it he would have OBJ
jected. therefore assume the entire response
bility. /, however, feel that it would not be
right for me to sit here any longer as a Senator
without entering my most solemn protest
against the continuance of the harsh attacks
though he be We all know the President of
the Senate to be high minded, whole souled
and kind-hearted gentleman in his sentiments
and intercourse with the members of the SEN
ate and because he does not possess to as emil
nent degree Us others-because it is not his
vocation-that keen knowledge of parlia-
mentary action which his critics deem he
should have, yet it is no reason why the cor
respondents of the press enjoying the privileges
of the Senate, by occupying seats upon the floor
and enjoying immunities that are allowed its
members, should daily, in its letters and re-
ports hurl their shafts of fault, censure and
1ault-findug at him. The Senate acknowledges
that in their presiding officer they have n high
minded, honorable and respected citizen to pre-
side over its deliberations; and the unpleasant
words aimed at him act like boomerang and
reflect back on the Senate do not intend to
enter upon discussion of where the line should
be drawn as between liberty and license of the
press 1t would take too much time and life is
TOO short desire to say, however, that am a
strong advocate of the former and despise the
latter.
Iconsiderit the bounded duty of every Senator
on the floor whatever his prediction politically
may be, to stand Loyalty by the side of his pre-
siding officer, and to assist and strengthen him
in every way. This | am determined to do, and
Senators will bear me out il the assertion
that thus far by no act or word of mine has the
slightest obstacle been thrown in the way of the
dignity, decorum and honor of the Senate.
Believing that every Senator on this floor en-
tertains the same sentiment of Kindness that /
most certainly do towards the presiding officer
have been prompted to speak as have on this
occasion.
Mr. Vrooman-Mr President, this is the first
time have heard snything concerning the sub
ject matter of this discussion, therefore am not
prepared to say anything upon the subject at
this time. but would move that Senators Mof-
ull. MURPHY anu ABDUL lie HppOlutGu Il COM
mittee TO investigate this subject, and report to
the Senate.
Mr. White-I second the motion made by SEN
ator Vrooman. l had not seen the article to
which reference has been made until just now
and have only read a portion of it, but the
portion which have read is sufficient to show
me that the writer abused a privilege which was
given him of being here, and acting as the cor
respondent of Il newspaper which he claimed to
have represented. Whether he is the gentle
man who is here as the representative ofthat
paper, or whether some one else who assumed
to be 50, or whether he was Il person who got
surreptitously in some way or the other, | do
not know but hope the gentle man here who
r presents that paper did nof write it, but that
we must if possible find out who the author was
is due to the dignity of this Senate. Lieutenant
Governor Waterman came here not only because
he was an aspirant for this place, but because
the people elected him TO fill that important po-
siton He has presided over the Senate, as has
been said, since the opening of the session, and
it has been seldom that anyone has been called
to take the chair 6s he has shirked no duty
but he is not an expert parllamentariap.
Not only is the article it.elf of exceedingly dis
graceful character, but, MIR. President, it was
sent under cover to Governor Waterman S wife.
Now say man who would do thing as mean
and as low as that viii not stop at anything.
person who enters hen-roost and departs with
some ones chickens, is not only the peer of such
a person, but he is eminently his Superior. To
a chicken thief this man ought to take off his
hat aud bow. l hope that the committee ap-
pointed will investigate this matter and ascer-
tain who the author was and the person who
sent the article to the Governor in the way l
have stated, because the authorship of the ar
ii lie was bad enough, but not nearly so bad as
the action which followed the publication.
Mr.. Wilson-Mr. President, | desire also to re-
iteratc what the Senator from Alameda has al
ready said, that this Is somewhat new to me. L.
have to reiterate and second everything that
the Senator from Los Angeles has said upon this
subject. The article itself, which | hold in my
hand and which have seen for the first time
ppp is roallv in fau in rs n Aud
it is true that the writer of this article, or the
editor of this paper, has sent the article under
cover to Governor Waterman's wife. who is an
invalid, that man ought to be brought be-
fore the bar of this Senate and severely
dealt with BY this body. and banished
from this floor. feel, sir, that
almost any civilized person ought to do. The
writing of the article itself is breach of prvi-
lege, but the sending of IL under cover to the in
valid wife of our Northumberland is one of
the most vile and infamous things | think any
human being could do underthe circumstance
We all appreciate the condition which this
Senate finds itself in We all know the gener-
Gus noble hearted character of our presiding
officer. We all know that he is man of the
highest honor and of the first and best quail
ties. We also know that he is now acting in a
new sphere that he has not had the experience
that have some other persons in that position
hut there is no man upon this floor, and there is
no r preventative of the press here who will not
say that Governor Waterman has not served
with utmost ia1thtuInesS III the once III which
he is placed. therefore second the motion of
Senator Vrooman, that Committee of Inquiry
be appointed. consisting of the Senators named
in the resolution, and hope the re, olution will
pass, and sincerely hope that the person who
wrote this will be treated according TO his just
deserts.
Mr.. Boggs-l wish to say in this connection
that hope this committee in their inyestiga-
tion will not confne their inquiry to the CORE
'tpondence aloue, but ascertain who the core
spondent was, and if they cannot punish him
or zeal With him severely. l think that the maIl-
ayers proprietors of the paper in question
ought to also be punished if ii is in the power OF
this Senate to do so. and that paper should be
denied representation upon this floor. will
also say in this connection that | heartily in
dorse the remarks made by the Senators before
me in reference to our presiding officer. We all
know that he has presided with utmost fairness
and with dignity. l may say although he is not
strict parllamentaria !. he is fair in all his
rulings
Mr.. Goucher thought the act of sending a
paper containing the article TO Mrs. Waterman,
very reprehensibie, but beyond that he wGs
not ready TO say thst the Lieutenant Governor
and the Senators should not be subject to full
est press criticism.
The motion of Mr.. vrooman for investigation
by the Senators Misunderstanding been reduced
TO writing in the form OF a resolution-was